Packing foe pistons



(No Model.)

L. GRAY.

PAOKING FOR PISTONS.

No. 306,482. Patented 001;. 14, 1884.

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LYMAN GRAY, OF IITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO RICHARD MOGOVERN, OF SAME PLACE.

PACKING FOR PISTONS.

EBPECEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 306,482, dated October 14:, 1884.

Application filed April 10, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Lvnmn GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsbnrg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have made anew and useful Improvement in Packing for Pistons, which improvement will be readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the acconilpanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a metallic ring provided with my improvement; Fig. 2, a portion of the same, showing an edge view of one of the joints; Fig. 3, an

I 5 inside view of the same joint.

The ring to which I have applied my improvcment may be of any suitable metal and constructed in two or more segments or sections, (0 I), one end of each segment being providcd with a short tenon, c, that fits into a correspondingly-shaped mortise, (Z, in the adjacent end of the other segment, and in such a manner as to allow each tenon to slide in or out of its respective mortise, whereby the ring may be expanded or increased in diameter without disengaging the several sections or segments the one from the other. The aforesaid tenons 0 and mortises cl are even with the inner surface of the ring, but do not 0 extend outwardly therefrom more than half its thickness, and over each juncture of the segments is placed a short metallic plate, a, so let into the edge of the ring as to be on a level therewith, one end of each plate 6 be-' ing secured to the tenon end of its respective segment by means of suitable rivets, f f, whereby the free end of the plate will be caused to slideupon its bearing in or on the mortise end of the opposing segment in such 40 a manner as to keep the joints practically steam-tight. The whole periphery of this metallie and expansible ring is formed into a series of dovetailed recesses, 9, that extend entirely across its face, and so arranged ebliquely to the plane of the ring as that a straight line thereon parallel to its axis will touch or intersect two of them.

Into each of the several dovetailed recesses y is driven a correspondingly-shaped and tightly'fitting panel, It, 01: non-metallic sub stance, that is afterward turned off so as to present an even and regular surface conformable to the ring, and make a smooth finish therewith. These panels may be of any hard wood, such as lignum-vittc,which, being almost 5 5 imperishable, and of an oily character, will in some cases answer the purpose; but I prefor to make the panels h of solid talcose slate or steatite, commonly called soapstonea material that will remain unaffected by the 6 heat of steam, and by reason of its greasy na ture will slide smoothly in the cylinder, requiring less lubrication than most other substances, and in that respect is admirably adapted as a packing for pistons of steam-englues.

The several panels h, on being dovetailed their entire length into the ring, give them a strong hold therein, so much so that they cannot be displaced except by considerable force applied thereto endwisc, which, when the ring is properly arranged on a piston, is prevented by the piston-head on one side and the follower on the other. This ring as constructed may be expanded or set out against the cylinder by the direct action of steam after the manner usual in such cases; or the same may be efiected by the application of springs, set-screws, or any other suitable means.

Having described my improved packing- 3 ring, I claim- 1. A new and improved packing consisting of a metallic ring composed of two or more segments or sections jointed endwise together, and provided with segregated non-me- 8 tallic panels arranged diagonally across the entire width of the periphery of the rin 2. An improved packing consisting of a metallic ring composed of two or more segments or sections jointed endwise together, and provided with segregated non-metallic panels dovetailed obliquely into and entirely across the entire width of the periphery of the ring.

3. An improved packing consisting of an 5 expansible metallic ring provided with segregated panels of anti-friction substance dovetailed obliquely into and entirely across the periphery of the rin 4-. An improved packing consisting of a IOO metallic ring in two or more segments or sec tions, the adjacent sections being united end- 10 tions united endwise together by a sliding Wise byasliding tenon-and-mortise joint, com

tenon-and-mortise joint even with the inner bined with an overlapping plate at each joint surface of the ring and in depth half its radial let into one face of the ring flush therewith, thickness, and provided with a series of nonand secured to one of the sections, substanmetallic panels arranged diagonally across the tially as set forth.

entire Width of the periphery. LYM AN GRAY. 5. An improved packing consisting of a JOSIAH \V. ELLs, metallic ring in two or more segments or sec- JOHN S. KENNEDY. 

